Just a quickie to announce that...
I scrapbooked today!
I also bought a skirt yesterday so these two things might be a sign that the apocalypse is looming. I promise to scan it tonight and post the layout later. If I can remember how to operate the scanner, that is.
Oh well, lucky for me that I have in-house IT (read: Chris).
Edited to add: The layout will be up sometime this weekend because IT (yes - Chris) just told me that the scanner isn't hooked up. Stay tuned!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Freedom!
So I'm officially on summer vacation. My last class was supposed to be tomorrow night but our Prof had a death in the family so class was canceled. In order to celebrate 4 months of freedom, I took myself shopping. Since I've been eating healthier, I've been losing weight (yay) so I need new summer clothes. Plus with our upcoming trip to Florida, I need to replace some things I've grown out of.
I bought two pairs of capri/cropped pants at the Ann Taylor Loft end of season sale last year and they are getting VERY big on me. I love them though so I'm trying to decide if I should keep them as "fat pants," or just chuck 'em. I think I'll keep them through the summer and then decide. If we ever get a summer that is - it's currently 65 and overcast - bleh! I'm on vacation! I need vacation weather!
So it's just me and the dogs - hanging out. Watching tv. Reading. That's going to pretty much sum up my summer. Relaxation. I dig it.
I bought two pairs of capri/cropped pants at the Ann Taylor Loft end of season sale last year and they are getting VERY big on me. I love them though so I'm trying to decide if I should keep them as "fat pants," or just chuck 'em. I think I'll keep them through the summer and then decide. If we ever get a summer that is - it's currently 65 and overcast - bleh! I'm on vacation! I need vacation weather!
So it's just me and the dogs - hanging out. Watching tv. Reading. That's going to pretty much sum up my summer. Relaxation. I dig it.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
I hereby renounce my love of Lionel Richie
Because I've seen this video.
Short shorts, bad dancing, and leg warmers.
Can someone pass the bleach? My mind's eye thanks you.
ETA: Cole just saw the video and said, "Men in booty shorts... bad. Just bad."
Short shorts, bad dancing, and leg warmers.
Can someone pass the bleach? My mind's eye thanks you.
ETA: Cole just saw the video and said, "Men in booty shorts... bad. Just bad."
Friday, May 9, 2008
Weight loss, quirks and my daily routine
1. Pretty much every morning, I try on clothes that I haven't been able to wear for awhile which is fun because I'm losing some much needed weight. My goal is to not buy anything new for vacation (other than a few sleeveless tops because Florida = Hades) because I want to wear some of my own stuff! So in order to meet this challenge, I have a couple of goals. Chris has inspired me to have a fairly reasonable goal and then a "stretch" goal. My goals are in the form of capri pants. My regular goal is a cute pair of cargo capris that I love dearly. I'm almost at that goal. My "stretch" goal is a pair of white capris that have been sitting in my closet for awhile. I've got 45 days and my eyes are on the white capris!
2. I've noticed lately that I have one interesting quirk. I mentally add up my food purchases as the cashier is ringing me up. As I put my food on the little conveyor belt, I come up with a sum total in my head and see how close I am to the final price. Although I've had to make some adjustments lately due to the price of food and shopping at different stores, I'm usually pretty dead-on. Yesterday, I had estimated $50 and the total was 48.65 FTW! Chris has this amazing ability to estimate suitcase weight. The Lynches have been blessed with the gift of accurate estimations.
3. The other day, Cole said that my days revolve around studying and Disney. I told him to throw in picking up after 2 additional people and 3 dogs, laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, yard work, running errands, and helping with homework and that pretty much sums up my day. I need a hobby.
2. I've noticed lately that I have one interesting quirk. I mentally add up my food purchases as the cashier is ringing me up. As I put my food on the little conveyor belt, I come up with a sum total in my head and see how close I am to the final price. Although I've had to make some adjustments lately due to the price of food and shopping at different stores, I'm usually pretty dead-on. Yesterday, I had estimated $50 and the total was 48.65 FTW! Chris has this amazing ability to estimate suitcase weight. The Lynches have been blessed with the gift of accurate estimations.
3. The other day, Cole said that my days revolve around studying and Disney. I told him to throw in picking up after 2 additional people and 3 dogs, laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, yard work, running errands, and helping with homework and that pretty much sums up my day. I need a hobby.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The yard, halibut, gifts and Disney
1. Our yard looks amazing. Contrary to what Chris says, it's not so much that I love yard work - I just love the immediate gratification of seeing the results. It's my mission this year since we spent a ton on landscaping last year. I want to enjoy my flowers and the efforts of my labor.
2. Halibut might be my new favorite fish. Too bad it's $17 a pound! I've never been much of a fish person. We had lots of salmon growing up since my dad loves to fish. In fact, I never understood why people would order salmon at a restaurant because that was something we ate at home all the time. It certainly didn't seem special enough to order when you go out! I know better now :)
3. I've been blessed with thoughtfulness over the past week. Tiffany gave me a wonderful bag of goodies at book club the other night. I can't wait to use the "fabulous" bling on a layout with Tango and his shades. My buddy, Randomesq, sent me a foodie book which makes me hungry each time I read it. I've also learned the correct way to slice onions with my fingers curled under. Avitania gave me a really pretty green Glassy Baby candle which has a really warm wonderful glow. I suspect I'll be collecting all the colors soon :)
4. Cole and I are certified Disney freaks! Someone on one of my Disney boards is at Disney World right now and set up a webcam outside of their window at the Boardwalk hotel. Cole and I watched Illuminations (the fireworks show at Epcot) on the webcam last night and then proceeded to search for all of our Disney cds. (I have a few). He told me that he isn't racing in a mountain bike race the day before we leave on vacation because he doesn't want anything bad to happen before he arrives at the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH! Now that is dedication :)
2. Halibut might be my new favorite fish. Too bad it's $17 a pound! I've never been much of a fish person. We had lots of salmon growing up since my dad loves to fish. In fact, I never understood why people would order salmon at a restaurant because that was something we ate at home all the time. It certainly didn't seem special enough to order when you go out! I know better now :)
3. I've been blessed with thoughtfulness over the past week. Tiffany gave me a wonderful bag of goodies at book club the other night. I can't wait to use the "fabulous" bling on a layout with Tango and his shades. My buddy, Randomesq, sent me a foodie book which makes me hungry each time I read it. I've also learned the correct way to slice onions with my fingers curled under. Avitania gave me a really pretty green Glassy Baby candle which has a really warm wonderful glow. I suspect I'll be collecting all the colors soon :)
4. Cole and I are certified Disney freaks! Someone on one of my Disney boards is at Disney World right now and set up a webcam outside of their window at the Boardwalk hotel. Cole and I watched Illuminations (the fireworks show at Epcot) on the webcam last night and then proceeded to search for all of our Disney cds. (I have a few). He told me that he isn't racing in a mountain bike race the day before we leave on vacation because he doesn't want anything bad to happen before he arrives at the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH! Now that is dedication :)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Denial - It's not just a river in Egypt
You can't change what you don't acknowledge - Dr. Phil
Ok, Dr. Phil - I'm acknowledging it: I'm overweight and out of shape.
There, I said it. Ugh
So, I've been wanting to drop some pounds and get in shape, but so far, I really haven't been overly motivated to actually do something. I've been inspired, however, by lots of shining examples including Avitania-who is looking quite awesome these days, Tiffany- one hot mama!, and my wonderful husband who is in incredible shape and also quite hot :)
I have an aversion toward weighing myself. BIGTIME. In fact, I've had no idea what I've weighed for a few years. I usually just go off of how my clothes fit (which is quite tight these days). My illusions of how much I actually weighed have been shattered and I can't hide anymore.
Back in February, I got really sick with a horrible virus and bronchitis to boot. I finally had Chris take me to an urgent care clinic because I needed DRUGS. Well, they weighed me. Of course, I looked away and didn't want to know the number (Denial in action). Fast forward to yesterday - I was cleaning up my office and I found a pile of papers on my desk. Lo and behold, I opened up a folded piece of paper which turned out to be the form from the clinic. Staring me right in the face was that ugly ugly number - my weight (Chris - it has been shredded and burned so don't think you can dive into my garbage and find it :)
So- no more denial *sigh*
It's actually a good thing and even though I'm moritifed, it has kicked me into action. I've started walking again and I'm hoping to work out 4-5 days per week. I also started eating MUCH healthier. I'm not good with diets so I'm hoping that good choices and portion control will make a difference.
Oh - and no more wine during the week. That might help as well :)
Ok, Dr. Phil - I'm acknowledging it: I'm overweight and out of shape.
There, I said it. Ugh
So, I've been wanting to drop some pounds and get in shape, but so far, I really haven't been overly motivated to actually do something. I've been inspired, however, by lots of shining examples including Avitania-who is looking quite awesome these days, Tiffany- one hot mama!, and my wonderful husband who is in incredible shape and also quite hot :)
I have an aversion toward weighing myself. BIGTIME. In fact, I've had no idea what I've weighed for a few years. I usually just go off of how my clothes fit (which is quite tight these days). My illusions of how much I actually weighed have been shattered and I can't hide anymore.
Back in February, I got really sick with a horrible virus and bronchitis to boot. I finally had Chris take me to an urgent care clinic because I needed DRUGS. Well, they weighed me. Of course, I looked away and didn't want to know the number (Denial in action). Fast forward to yesterday - I was cleaning up my office and I found a pile of papers on my desk. Lo and behold, I opened up a folded piece of paper which turned out to be the form from the clinic. Staring me right in the face was that ugly ugly number - my weight (Chris - it has been shredded and burned so don't think you can dive into my garbage and find it :)
So- no more denial *sigh*
It's actually a good thing and even though I'm moritifed, it has kicked me into action. I've started walking again and I'm hoping to work out 4-5 days per week. I also started eating MUCH healthier. I'm not good with diets so I'm hoping that good choices and portion control will make a difference.
Oh - and no more wine during the week. That might help as well :)
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Two of my favorite things - the Market and Cooking
It's been a crazy few weeks/months in the Lynch household. All of us have been super busy with work/school/family so yesterday, Chris decided to surprise me with a day of fun :) As most of you know, surprises really aren't my thing. Figuring out surprises is my thing. I was good though and made it until 8:30 a.m. before I made him tell me.
Chris knows of my love of all things culinary and food related so he booked a session with a local chef that has an "urban cooking school" right next to his office. The session was even better because it involved buying all the ingredients at Pike Place Market and then taking them back to the studio and cooking it all up! We met Diane, the chef, at the "pig" at the Market at 10 am. There was supposed to be another couple taking the class, but they never showed up. SCORE! Nothing like some serious one on one time! We bought halibut at Pike Place Fish-home of the famous Seattle flying fish, and then we bought produce, spices, truffle oil and cheese from other local vendors. As we walked through the market, she talked about the benefits of buying local as well as the importance of sustainability. She also gave us some interesting info about the Market and vendors.
After the purchases were made, we headed back to the studio to cook. She started out by having us taste lots of different salts from Hawaiian black salt to Cyprus sea salt in order to emphasize the importance of seasoning. After watching many episodes of Top Chef, I am all over the seasoning. We also tried lots of different spices, some olives and different cheeses. Then it was on to the main event - cooking!!
Lunch consisted of sauteed ramps - wild leeks that are in season right now and available at the market for $16.00 a pound (yikes!), fiddlehead ferns and parmesan-crusted halibut. The ramps and fiddleheads were sauteed with pancetta, wine, cream and a bit of lemon. The halibut was lightly pan-seared and then finished in a hot oven. We got to help out at each part and then we enjoyed eating our creations with a glass of chardonnay. Dessert was a lovely strawberry-rhubarb pie. After we finished, we walked back through the market and bought lots of yummy goodness. I also made a stop into Sur la Table for a chef's apron, microplane grater and potato ricer.
We'd love to plan a 7 course tasting menu with wine pairings at the studio for sometime in June so if you're in the Seattle area and are interested, let me know and we'll put it all together!
Chris knows of my love of all things culinary and food related so he booked a session with a local chef that has an "urban cooking school" right next to his office. The session was even better because it involved buying all the ingredients at Pike Place Market and then taking them back to the studio and cooking it all up! We met Diane, the chef, at the "pig" at the Market at 10 am. There was supposed to be another couple taking the class, but they never showed up. SCORE! Nothing like some serious one on one time! We bought halibut at Pike Place Fish-home of the famous Seattle flying fish, and then we bought produce, spices, truffle oil and cheese from other local vendors. As we walked through the market, she talked about the benefits of buying local as well as the importance of sustainability. She also gave us some interesting info about the Market and vendors.
After the purchases were made, we headed back to the studio to cook. She started out by having us taste lots of different salts from Hawaiian black salt to Cyprus sea salt in order to emphasize the importance of seasoning. After watching many episodes of Top Chef, I am all over the seasoning. We also tried lots of different spices, some olives and different cheeses. Then it was on to the main event - cooking!!
Lunch consisted of sauteed ramps - wild leeks that are in season right now and available at the market for $16.00 a pound (yikes!), fiddlehead ferns and parmesan-crusted halibut. The ramps and fiddleheads were sauteed with pancetta, wine, cream and a bit of lemon. The halibut was lightly pan-seared and then finished in a hot oven. We got to help out at each part and then we enjoyed eating our creations with a glass of chardonnay. Dessert was a lovely strawberry-rhubarb pie. After we finished, we walked back through the market and bought lots of yummy goodness. I also made a stop into Sur la Table for a chef's apron, microplane grater and potato ricer.
We'd love to plan a 7 course tasting menu with wine pairings at the studio for sometime in June so if you're in the Seattle area and are interested, let me know and we'll put it all together!
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